South Korea Eyes Ban on Eating Dog Meat

South Korea intends to ban eating dog meat and put an end to the debate surrounding the old practice, according to a governing party policy leader. Eating dog meat is neither prohibited nor explicitly authorized in South Korea.

Consumption of dog meat has declined in the country over the years as a result of animal rights groups' criticism and the younger generation's waning enthusiasm for the meat.

Consumption of Dog Meat in South Korea

(Photo : Getty Images/Douglas Magno)

Yu Eui-dong, policy chief of the ruling People Power Party, said the government and ruling party would present legislation this year to implement the ban and that the legislation should pass with bipartisan backing.

"It is time to put an end to social conflicts and controversies around dog meat consumption through the enactment of a special act to end it," he added.

The special act will give the industry three years to phase out. If the law is passed by the legislature by the end of the year, the dog meat prohibition will go into force in 2027. Dogs will be exempted from the country's Livestock Act as part of this, recognizing their status as companion animals.

Eating dog meat has been a long-standing habit on the Korean peninsula, and it was originally viewed as a method to beat the summer heat during the Bok Nal season, which runs from July to August. While the younger generation has mostly rejected the practice, it remains popular among the elderly and is offered in restaurants.

South Korea's official network, KBS, stated in 2022 that more than 500,000 dogs were being farmed for food across the country, with 1,600 eateries serving dog meat. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs, there were 1,156 farms raising dogs for meat and 34 slaughterhouses in February of last year.

"With so many dogs needlessly suffering for a meat that hardly anyone eats, the government's bill delivers a bold plan that must now urgently be passed by the Assembly so that a legislative ban can be agreed as soon as possible to help South Korea close this miserable chapter in our history and embrace a dog-friendly future," JungAh Chae, executive director of Humane Society International, said in a statement following the meeting.

Government To Help Farmers

Following the news, an industry group rallied in front of the National Assembly building in Seoul in protest of the proposed ban. They claimed that the measure would "rob people of their fundamental right to food" and "fail to protect farmers."

Yu said that the government will provide full support to farmers, butchers, and other businesses that are facing closure or transition as a result of the new law. He went on to say that compensation will only be given to legitimately registered dog meat farmers, traders, slaughterers, and restaurant owners.

Anti-dog meat legislation has failed in the past due to industry complaints and concerns about farmers' and restaurant owners' livelihoods. First lady Kim Keon Hee has been a vocal opponent of dog meat consumption and has adopted stray dogs with her husband, President Yoon Suk Yeol.